Good Medicine
Steven Martin's professional journey in Higher Education has taken him all over Indian Country throughout the mid-west, northwest, and southwest. Steven is grateful for the many teachings, "the good medicine" that has been gifted to him by Native American leaders, professionals, mentors, and especially students. This medicine is not his to keep, it's his to share through training workshops, mentoring, advising or public speaking. He looks forward to sharing his knowledge about bettering the experience for Native American students at institutions of higher learning and to inspire Native American youth to ascend to greater heights.
Sacred Philosophy
The foundation of how Steven supports and works with Native American students, tribal communities, and professional staff started in the South Dakota higher education system with the creation of the Sacred Hoop Model. This culture-based model provides the proper approach to support the development of Native American students as they transition to and navigate through higher education. The Sacred Hoop Model remains a guide that Steven follows to create cultural programming and strategies to Indigenize the academy. This Model has helped build relationships, develop community, make campus services and procedures culturally relevant, influence the hearts of administrators, and, most importantly, create the cultural imprint needed for Native students to succeed.